“Jesse James” does not shoot to thrill. Quite the contrary.

Instead, this haunting character study of the West’s greatest legend aims to deepen its portrait of the conflicted soul of the man —and to introduce his ultimate nemesis. In so doing, thanks to a visually epic and unhurried approach, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” refuses to pander to conventional entertainment standards. For this mood piece, toxic paranoia and an overwhelming sense of dread take precedence over flashy action showdowns and plot elaborations.

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